Daphne ‘DAPJUR02’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Daphne  cultivar named ‘DAPJUR02’ is disclosed, characterized by an abundance of large, white, highly fragrant flowers. Plants are bushy and produce unique, unusually long racemes of flowers. Plants are sun tolerant. The new variety is a  Daphne , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Daphne odora.

Variety denomination: ‘DAPJUR02’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Daphne cultivar is a product of a chance discovery. The new variety was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation at a commercial nursery in Hope, New Zealand. The parent variety is Daphne odora ‘DAPJUR01’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,662. The new variety was first identified in August of 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by semi-softwood vegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a commercial nursery in North Taranaki, New Zealand in September of 2016. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 2 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DAPJUR02’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DAPJUR02’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DAPJUR02’ as a new and distinct Daphne cultivar:

-   1. Large flowers. -   2. Unique flowering configuration, with flowers forming a spike like     raceme, instead of a terminal cluster head of flowers, which is     typical of Daphne. -   3. Highly fragrant flowers. -   4. Suitability for both container and garden plantings. -   5. Bushy plant habit. -   6. Sun tolerance.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAPJUR02’ are similar to plants of the parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DAPJUR02’ differ in the following;

-   1. The new variety has a white flower, the parent variety has a     Violet-Blue and Red-Purple flower.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAPJUR02’ are comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Daphne odora ‘Alba’. The two Daphne varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DAPJUR02’ differs in the following:

-   1. The new variety has larger flowers. -   2. New variety has a lighter leaf color. -   3. The new variety is sun tolerant. The comparator is not known to     be sun tolerant. -   4. The new variety has a longer flowering period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DAPJUR02’ grown in a nursery. FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the inflorescence.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DAPJUR02’ plants grown outdoors during the Spring and Summer in North Taranaki, New Zealand. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 30° C. during the day and from 8° C. to 15° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Daphne odora ‘DAPJUR02’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: Approximately 4 to 8 weeks at approximately 20° C.     to 30° C. from semi-hardwood cuttings. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous young roots. Older roots becoming     woody.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 1 year. -   Growth habit: Strong, bushy, compact deciduous shrub. -   Height: Mature plant height approximately 100 cm. -   Plant spread: About 100 cm. -   Growth rate: Rapid for Genus. -   Branching characteristics: Above average branching for Genus. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—3 to 5. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.5 cm. -   Lateral branch strength: Very strong, with some flexibility. -   Lateral branch color: Young branches near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.     Mature branches near RHS Greyed-Green 197A. -   Other stem or plant characteristics: No pubescence or lenticels     observed. Texture slightly rough, moderately striated.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Type.—Simple.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Average length.—Approximately 9.0 to 11.0 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 3.0 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute, or occasionally mucronate.         -   Base.—Tapered.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 0.9 to 1.5 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.             Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Mature             foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137D. Mature foliage             under side: Near RHS Green 138A.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green N144A. Venation color under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green N144B. -   Petiole: Not present, sessile.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Autumn until Spring. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Raceme. Single trumpet     shaped flowers composed of petaloid sepals. Corolla not present. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 9.0 cm.         -   Height.—Average 8.0 cm. -   Individual flower:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.0 to 4.0 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 5.0 cm.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Average range 9 to             16. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. -   Fragrance: Very strong sweet scent. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Conical operculum.         -   Length.—1 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Color.—RHS White 155C, flushed Yellow-White 158D. -   Petaloid sepals:     -   -   Quantity.—4.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.0 to 2.0 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.6 to 0.9 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Shape of petal.—Ovate.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal arrangement.—Whorled, slightly overlapping.         -   Petal texture.—Smooth, upper and lower surfaces. -   Color:     -   -   Upper surface at first opening.—Near RHS White 155C.         -   Under surface at maturity.—Near RHS White 155C. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow-green 144B.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number (per flower).—4.         -   Filament length.—0.1 cm.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Conical. Length: 0.05 mm. Color: RHS White             N155D. -   Pollen: Pollen not produced. -   Pistils:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—1.         -   Length.—0.2 cm.         -   Styles.—Length: Less than 0.1 cm. Color: RHS White N155D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not produced. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     the normal diseases and pests of Daphne has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately     −15° C. to 38° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Daphne plant named ‘DAPJUR02’ as herein illustrated and described. 